Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC make a median of $33,010 a year, or about $15.87 an hour. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.49), which stretches that salary to about $37,304 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,095/month — about 47.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $33K get you in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton’s Regional Price Parity (88.49). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Entry-level refuse and recyclable material collectors (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $33K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $71K | +48% | 3,890 |
| Nevada | $65K | +35% | 600 |
| New York | $65K | +34% | 11,240 |
| Illinois | $62K | +28% | 4,940 |
| California | $62K | +28% | 13,240 |
| Minnesota | $62K | +27% | 2,260 |
| Oregon | $61K | +26% | 2,080 |
| Wisconsin | $60K | +25% | 1,330 |
| Massachusetts | $60K | +23% | 1,170 |
| Michigan | $59K | +23% | 3,680 |
| Indiana | $59K | +23% | 2,980 |
| Hawaii | $55K | +14% | 740 |
| District of Columbia | $54K | +11% | 550 |
| Rhode Island | $51K | +6% | 520 |
| Montana | $51K | +6% | 350 |
| Utah | $51K | +5% | 680 |
| New Jersey | $51K | +5% | 4,710 |
| North Dakota | $50K | +4% | 300 |
| Vermont | $49K | +2% | 160 |
| Iowa | $49K | +1% | 2,050 |
| Ohio | $49K | +1% | 5,000 |
| Idaho | $48K | -0% | 830 |
| Wyoming | $48K | -1% | 310 |
| Nebraska | $47K | -2% | 1,190 |
| Delaware | $47K | -3% | 380 |
| Florida | $47K | -3% | 9,690 |
| New Mexico | $47K | -3% | 1,210 |
| Missouri | $47K | -3% | 2,180 |
| Virginia | $46K | -5% | 3,720 |
| Connecticut | $46K | -5% | 930 |
| Texas | $46K | -5% | 10,720 |
| Maine | $43K | -11% | 620 |
| Georgia | $43K | -11% | 4,790 |
| Pennsylvania | $43K | -12% | 5,800 |
| New Hampshire | $43K | -12% | 390 |
| Kansas | $43K | -12% | 980 |
| North Carolina | $41K | -16% | 6,460 |
| Maryland | $40K | -17% | 2,710 |
| Alabama | $40K | -18% | 2,000 |
| Arizona | $40K | -18% | 2,020 |
| Tennessee | $39K | -20% | 2,630 |
| South Carolina | $37K | -23% | 2,600 |
| Kentucky | $37K | -24% | 2,060 |
| Louisiana | $37K | -24% | 2,200 |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -24% | 2,030 |
| Alaska | $37K | -24% | 330 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -24% | 1,530 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -24% | 860 |
| Mississippi | $36K | -25% | 1,790 |
| South Dakota | $33K | -32% | 360 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track refuse and recyclable material collectors salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do refuse and recyclable material collectors make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median is $33,010 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,800, and experienced refuse and recyclable material collectors can clear $46,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $33K enough to live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,256/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 48.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a refuse and recyclable material collectors salary go in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has a Regional Price Parity of 88.49 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median refuse and recyclable material collectors salary is worth about $37,304 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do refuse and recyclable material collectors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.